Bus Driver – D Licence (Tralee)

Are you a polite, friendly person who enjoys driving and likes travelling around from place to place as part of your everyday work routine? If so, have you considered a career as a bus or coach driver? Bus and coach drivers are responsible for the safety and comfort of their passengers. They must follow strict road safety and health and safety rules and regulation, drive the vehicle safely and competently, carry out basis checks to ensure the vehicle is roadworthy, report incidents and complete documentation. In addition, drivers may also have to check tickets, help passengers on and off the vehicle, load and unload luggage, keep the vehicle clean and plan tour routes. Their work hours include early mornings, late evenings and weekends. National and international coach tour drivers have to work away from home on a regular basis.

This course is designed to provide bus and coach companies with Class D licensed drivers of large public service vehicles (LPSVs). It covers: Manual Handling, Fire Safety, Occupational First Aid, Driving a LPSV, Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC), Digital Tachograph, Documentation, Customer Service, Career Planning, Technical Standards and Work Experience.

What you’ll study

Delivery Methods

Entry Requirements

Job Opportunities

Induction to the Course – State the role of the Education and Training Board and the planned outcomes and conditions attached to the course, identify and apply good safety, health and welfare practices, conform to the rules of the training location, state the basic principles involved in environmental issues, outline the emergency evacuation procedures and explain the meaning of equal opportunities.

Manual Handling and Fire Safety – State the statutory regulations relating to the manual handling of loads. Describe and use the correct techniques to lift, put down, push and pull a load. Describe the theory and practice of the Fire Triangle, describe how fires start and spread, identify fire hazards and understand how these are controlled, describe correct fire prevention and protection procedures, outline the main steps and instructions involved in a fire drill, use basic fire extinguishing equipment and describe your responsibilities in the event of a fire.

Occupational First Aid 5N1207 Bus Driving – Provide and co-ordinate workplace first aid in compliance with the requirements of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007. Describe the role and responsibilities of the occupational first aider, assess patients, deal with respiratory emergencies, act as a cardiac first responder using both CPR and AED, deal with different types of injuries, altered levels of consciousness, musculoskeletal injuries, burns, scalds, chemicals, poisonings and electric shocks.

Driving Bus Category D (LPSV) – Identify and operate all the control devices on a LPSV. Comply with EU regulations for tachographs on LPSVs. Read and interpret information from road maps. Drive a LPSV in accordance with the standards set by the Department of the Environment, the Road Traffic Acts and the manufacturer’s specifications for the operation of the vehicle.

CPC Category D (LPSV) – Describe the operation and technical characteristics of the vehicle’s transmission system and safety controls. Drive in a safe, comfortable and ecologically considerate manner. Identify health and safety issues, minimise risks and manage emergencies. Adopt a professional attitude, provide excellent customer care and act ethically and safely at all times.

Digital Tachograph For LSPVs – Demonstrate an understanding of the EU regulations governing tachographs, convert local time to universal time coordinated, insert a driver’s card in to the vehicle unit, and download and interpret data from the vehicle unit and driver’s card.

Documentation For LPSVs – Demonstrate an understanding of the regulations governing licensing of LPSVs, procedure to be followed when applying for a Road Passenger Transport Operator Licence or Community Licence, national and international road passenger transport operations, PSV licensing and route licensing.

Customer Service Bus Driving – Define customer service and customer care. Identify the competencies required to provide effective customer service and care. Deal effectively with customers using a range of verbal and non-verbal communication techniques in a variety of challenging situation in order to meet their needs. Outline the potential consequences of good and bad first impressions and state the principles of consumer protection legislation.

Career Planning And Job Seeking Skills – Bus Driving – State the structure, role and scope of Irish Industry, describe the opportunities and challenges of working in another EU state, assess your career to date, list your career objectives, understand the jobs’ market, develop job application and interview skills, and conduct a job search, i.e. source and pursue potential employment opportunities.

Technical Standards for LPSVs – Demonstrate an understanding of how to operate emergency exits in LPSVs, EU directive 2001/85, and the legal markings and equipment mandatory on LPSVs.

Work Experience Bus Driving – Transfer, practice and further develop the knowledge and skills needed to be a competent LPSV driver in a work environment allied to your chosen occupation. List the skills practised and developed on-the-job. Maintain accurate attendance records.

This is a full-time course of 12 weeks duration. It includes 2 weeks work placement in a company. A combination of classroom learning, instructor led tuition and supervised work practice enables the participants to perfect the standard of knowledge and skills required of bus drivers. The training methods include instructions, presentations, demonstrations, one-to-one tuition, supervised practice, practical work training, discussion groups and role plays. Participants are required to actively participate in the learning process. They must complete a number of practical and written assignments throughout the course. A number of methods are used to assess the participants’ progress and for certification purposes. These include assignments, theory exams, practical assessments, skills demonstrations, driving tests and a portfolio of work.

Reached 21 years of age.

Junior Certificate or equivalent standard of education.

Good written and spoken English language skills.

Good numeracy skills.

Good spatial aptitude, hand-eye co-ordination and manual dexterity.

Hold a current full category B driving licence and a current category D driver learner permit.

Bus drivers are employed by companies operating local, regional, city and inter-city bus routes. Coach drivers are employed by companies operating national and international coach tours and educational, sports, leisure and corporate trips etc.